Table 3.
Effects of curcumin on fibromyalgia-like symptom in animal studies.
| First Author, Year [ref] | Experimental Design and Treatments | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Animal studies | ||
| Yang, 2017 [43] | Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced FM-like model | Compared to naive control group, curcumin group: |
| Male SD rats (n = 57, 190–210 g) | ↓ visceral hyperalgesia in dose-dependent manner (no significant effect with lower curcumin dose) | |
| Treatments: naive control, DSS + saline, and DSS + curcumin (20, 60 mg/kg) by oral gavage 1x/day for 10 days, beginning 3 days after initiation of DSS | ↓ TRPV1 expression in DRG neurons | |
| ↓ TRPV1 protein level in inflamed colon | ||
| Zhi, 2013 [44] |
Colorectal distension (CRD)-induced FM-like (VMR) model | Compared to vehicle group, curcumin group: |
| ↓ CRD-induced VMRs indicating a decrease in GI nociception | ||
| Adult male SD rats (n = 4, 250–300 g) | ↓ visceral hyperalgesia | |
| Treatments: control, vehicle, and curcumin (4 mg/kg⋅min) infusion for 3 min |
↓ TRPV1 activation in primary afferent neurons in concentration-dependent manner | |
| Jejunal afferent firing in ex vivo jejunum preparations model | Compared to control group, curcumin groups: | |
| Adult male Kunming mice (n = 25, 20–30 g) | ↓ TNBS-induced hypersensitivity of jejunal afferents | |
| Treatments: control, curcumin at 1, 3, 10, and 30 μmol/L given extra- and intra-luminally in naïve and TNBS-treated mouse jejunum | ↓ capsaicin-induced rise in intracellular calcium and inward currents in mouse or rat DRG neurons | |
| Fattori, 2015 [45] | KO2-induced superoxide anion-induced FM-like model | Compared to control group, curcumin groups: |
| ↓ mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia | ||
| Male Swiss mice (25–30 g) | ↓ superoxide anion-induced leukocyte recruitment in peritoneal cavity | |
| ↓ MPO activity, oxidative stress, IL-1β and TNF-α production in paw skin | ||
| Treatments: vehicle (2% DMSO in saline) i.pl., KO2 i.pl + saline s.c., KO2 i.pl. + curcumin (3, 10, or 30 mg/kg) s.c. 1 h before KO2 stimulus | ↓ NF-κB activation in paw skin | |
| ↑ IL-10 production, and HO-1 and Nrf2 mRNA expression in paw skin |
Abbreviations: BW, body weight, CRD, colorectal distension; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; DRG, dorsal root ganglia; DSS, dextran sodium sulfate; HO, heme oxygenase; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; i.pl., intraplantar; KO2, potassium superoxide; Nrf2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; s.c. subcutaneous; SD, Sprague-Dawley; TNBS, trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; TRPV1, transient receptor potential vanilloid-1; VMR, viscero-motor response; ↑ increase; ↓ decrease; ↔ no difference.